(indieWIRE: 05.31.02) — As the hugely varied sampling of new work at Cannes 2002 proved yet again, the advent of cinematic traditions in new territoriescontinues unabated. From Argentine to Turkey to Thailand, national renaissancesand neo-renaissances are popping up everywhere.

But not many of these nascent, vibrant film cultures have much on theItalians in terms of a pedigree. To help remind us that Italy hasn’t lost abeat on the world film scene, the Film Society of Lincoln Center presentsits annual Open Roads: New Italian Cinema series, which kicks off today andruns through June 12.

“I was very pleased that Cannes this year had a very strong presence ofItalian film,” said FSLC programming director Richard Pena, who curated the series with Antonio Monda, with help from Giorgio Gosetti and GriseldGuerrasio. “There’s a good new generation of filmmakers in Italy workingright now.

“One of the things that strike me this year is that there are more storiesthat focus on the experience of a single character,” added Pena. “Italiancinema seems to be moving towards more psychologically geared stories ratherthan the wider-ranging social portraits that the Italians are so well knownfor.”

The series features 13 films, including ” L’Ultimo Bacio” (The Last Kiss),director Gabriele Muccino‘s 2002 Sundance audience award winner; Giuseppe Piccioni‘s “Luce Dei Miei Occhi” (Light of My Eyes), which took home the best actor and actress prizes at the 2001 Venice Film Festival, as well as aspecial screening of Ermanno Olmi‘s “Il Mestiere Delle Armi” (The Profession of Arms), which screened in competition at Cannes 2001. Olmi was the subjectof a Film Society retrospective last year.

“I think it’s a good moment for Italian cinema,” said Pena. “In the nextcouple of years, I think we’re going to see the emergence of two or threemajor new talents from Italy.” All films will screen at the Walter ReadeTheater. [Matthew Ross]

>> Nantucket is “Made Up” and Ready to Go

(indieWIRE: 05.31.02) — The summer film festival season is gearing up withthe slate of June events taking shape including plans for the Nantucket FilmFestival which will celebrate its 7th annual event on the posh Massachusettsisland June 20 – 23. Festival director Jill Goode and artistic directorMystelle Brabbee revealed the slate of films yesterday, including 20 featuresand 43 shorts with Tony Shalhoub‘s directorial debut “Made Up” opening the event. “Divining Mom” by George Kachadorian and “Last Call” by John Stanton will make their world premieres during the festival along with two U.S. premieres, six East Coast premieres and four New England premieres.

Paramount Classics‘ “Mostly Martha,” written and directed by Sandra Nettlebeck, will screen as the centerpiece film and Fox Searchlight‘s “The Good Girl” by Miguel Arteta and writer Mike White will close the event. Additionally, NFF will host “Underground Zero,” 13 short works selected from a pool of films made by 150 filmmakers, related to the September 11th attacks and their aftermath. Also new this year is “Ten Years Later: A Look at the Ten Best Screenplays ofthe Past Decade” hosted by Entertainment Weekly critic Lisa Schwarzbaum and Rolling Stone critic Peter Travers who will present their choices for the most important screenplays of the last decade. “Spotlight on New England,”presenting filmmakers from New England, and “Featuring Latin America” with workfrom Mexico, Venezuela, Brazil, Cuba and Argentina are two fest sidebars thisyear while the popular “Morning Coffee With” will make its return. Hostedby Steve Hamilton, editor of “Henry Fool” and “The Chateau,” “Morning Coffee With…” features a different guest participant each day of the festival whosits for an informal hour of conversation.

This year’s NBC Screenwriter Tribute will go to Oscar-nominated James Schamus (“The Hulk,” “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon“). Jury members for the event’s writer/director award are Rosie Perez, Ted Hope and Paul Speaker and the jurors for the Tony Cox Award for Screenwriting sponsored by Showtime include Bobby and Peter Farrelly, Adrienne Shelly and Oren Moverman.

“After 9/11, we thought we were going to have to cut the festival dramaticallybut it’s now looking as if the festival is loaded with more events than ever,”said Brabee in an event release. “The exciting new programs — all opportunitiesfor festival guests to look at stories in new ways — coupled with a strong filmslate are the perfect combination for the distinct vision of our festival.”[Brian Brooks]

“The film fund is one of the most important aspects of CUFF’s mission,”festival director Bryan Wendorf said in a prepared statement. “Through thefund we aim to give back to the independent film community and insure thatsmart, creative and daring work continues to be produced.”

Since the fund started in 1999, it has been awarded to 25 projects. Theninth annual Chicago Underground Film Festival will be held August 22-28.[Wendy Mitchell]